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summer trip

How many times have I attempted to resume blogging?  When I checked on my dashboard, I saw three posts in my “draftbox” waiting to be finished.  Sometimes I am so caught up in my everyday routine, I tend to forget documenting the moment.  I’ll let you in on a secret, those three posts will never be published.

But just before this entry ends up as another draft, I’m posting our recent trip this weekend.  Daddy, who is now a corporate slave, no longer owns his time. My used to be out of town-smouldered month long vacation is limited to locally declared holidays as Daddy works from Monday to Saturday.  When last Saturday (April 9 is Bataan Day) was declared a holiday, we knew we had to take this chance.  While Daddy was working his ass off, I was busy looking for places to go to.  It’s a NO for Potipot because we only have a few days to spare, NO to Pundaquit/Anawangin because I predict that many people will flock the area.

I googled Laiya, San Juan, Batangas but I think the resort owners there have forgotten that PRICE do matter.  We decided to find something new along Zambales instead.  Subic seemed to be a better choice since travel time is not that long, and it’s been quite a while we last spent time there.  When Jaims got home, he did his share of research and came up with this itinerary.

Dungaree Beach in Subic
Sheavens in Olongapo for lodging

We left Pasig at 8am with that itinerary in mind.  Sofi spent the entire trip sleeping at the back of the car.  We arrived at Subic at around 10.30am and went around first for our grocery needs.  So we dropped by Puregold DutyFree in SBMA.  Ah, the chocolates were quite enticing! At 11.30 we were already looking for Dungaree Beach.  It is located at San Bernardo Road, along with All Hands Resort.

Since it was almost lunch time, we asked Dungaree if lunch is being served in the area but they said NO.  So we decided to eat at the nearest diner we can reach.  Rali’s Grill and Bar.

I love how this resto is very much open.  One can have a good view of the beach and have that dining by the bay feeling.  The cheapest complete meal in their menu is the All-Filipino Breakfast at P160.00.  We decided to get two of this, one has the longganisa while the other is the tocino-egg combi.  It’s funny that they served two sunny side-up eggs in a single meal.

After filling our tummies, we went straight to Dungaree Beach only to find out that it changed its name to Sands of Triboa (under new management). Entrance is P150.00 per head for 4 years old and above. Fee for three years old and below is waived.   Nipa Hut costs 1,500.00.  For a family of three, the price is quite expensive but based on our research they offer monobloc tables and chair, I asked for it and they said they have it for P500.00.  You’re free to relocate your monoblocs in a shaded place, and that’s what we did.  You can view All Hands and Sands of Triboa from the top (parking area), and the beach looks the same.  All Hands is bigger, thus one should expect a bigger bulk of visitors.  Nipa Hut costs the same for both.  BUT if you prefer water activities, All Hands has something to offer.  I settled for Sands of Triboa since I only wanted to swim in a not so crowded beach.  It’s not Anawangin white, so don’t expect much.  The sand is white on top and black underneath.  It’s quite rocky but nonetheless enjoyable as it is not as wavy as any regular beach.  The water is clear and serene in most parts of our stay.

Second part of the itinerary was finding a place to stay in Olongapo.  The requirements include cheap price, nearby beach and a pool.   We left Sands of Triboa before five but had to go a longer route because Kalkalan Bridge was still close to all types of vehicle.  When we got to Sheaven, the place was already full.  We scouted for other places to stay along Barrio Barreto, but all those with pool were already full.  We didn’t bother inquiring in Wild Orchids because I knew it wouldn’t pass the first requirement — Cheap Price.

We were bent on going home already, as the beach stay was already enough for us but we decided to go back to Subic to find some place to stay.  We ended going back to Tiara Hotel, and for the third time, it didn’t fail us in finding a room.  Rooms for triple sharing now cost P1,800.00.  Sofi forgot about the place already, and she didn’t even remember that the hotel has a pool in it.  She wanted to stay longer in Sands of Triboa but since we still need to look for a place to sleep, we left early.  Good thing the room has a bath tub which Sofi can soaked into.  I know it’s not ideal to do this but we ate at KFC, Subic.  It’s the only way Sofi will eat rice.  Each one of us had a one-piece chicken meal, and Sofi almost finished her rice.

When we woke up, Daddy showed Sofi the pool from the viewing deck, and she was all giddy again.  She was telling me to get our swimsuits so we can swim already but I told her we need to eat rice.  She was forcing us to just eat “chicharon” (that’s how she calls junk foods) instead of rice.  We went down the hotel and walked to the nearest foodmart. We found Sleepless Mart, just near our place and decided to eat noodles and bread.

We dipped in the pool for three hours while daddy do some last minute checkup of Barney-boo.  Sofi has really grown big.  She used to stay in the pool steps while I swim but now she walks in the pool bravely.  She can even climb the the pool from the 2’6″ side.  She even walked in the 3’6″ without feeling scared.

Based on the pics below, would you say she didn’t enjoy?

sick 2011

monkey’s feng shui forecast for the year of the rabbit is poor health.  been absent for half day last time because of headache.  now, i’m using one whole sick leave to nurse an aching head and sore throat that left me vomiting all night.  oh, i remember last weekend was no different — Saturday was like flu-day.  I thought my sore throat was gone, but apparently, it was just on camouflage.

i wonder how long i would be like this.  it’s just march and i’ve been sick several times already.  I NEED A CURE.

IMAGE SOURCE: http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff185/virisabu/sick-monkey-1.jpg

techie week

almost 5 years after, jaims and i are finally buying one major appliance for our home [err...room].  we’ve been scouting for an LCD TV these past few days but we haven’t decided on anything yet.  i was hoping we could get something around 15k.  we’ve seen one in SM Hypermart but we’re still waiting for a coop loan.  Hopefully by the time the money comes out, we’ve finally settled for the TV that we wanted.

I’m also eyeing a new phone with that loan.  I’ve been reading reviews on nokia e63 and samsung b7320 but everytime i read something new, my decision changes.  just yesterday i was so decided on getting b7320 but before the day ended (at 11:40PM), I read something about it and finally focused on wanting to have Nokia e63.  they said that wifi connectivity with samsung is quite difficult. i’m actually still torn up to this point.  But Jaims said, he’d go for nokia e63.  In any case, the loan will come out next, next week so I still have time to decide on things.

TV and mobile phone?  I’m not rich.  I guess,  everything has its own time.  In the case of the TV, Sofi and Jaims are always fighting for monitor space as our monitor also serve as our TV.  And on busy times, Sofi couldn’t even get 1/4 of the monitor space.  A real TV solves the problem.  My phone, on the other hand is two years old already.  It’s still functioning but an upgrade for the changing times is not bad.  I wanted to be different that’s why the sudden move to QWERTY phones.  A blackberry is THE king of all qwerty, but being different has a price — and so is a BB mobile.

BOOK REVIEW: Ten Tiny Babies

5 jiggly babies wriggle their toes.
Along comes another…
…who wiggles her nose

Ten Tiny Babies is a colorful, fully illustrated picture book created by Karen Katz.  Each spread shows a baby doing a funny action, captured by Katz in a silly rhyme.  As the story builds, the number of babies in each spread also grow from 1 to 10.

The catchy rhyme as I read aloud the words in each spread makes my little girl enjoy the book so much.  In fact, she already knew what to say before I can even end the words written in each page.

along comes another…

Each baby in the book has a  unique face and expression which allows her to think beyond what is  said.  Why is she dirty?  why is the baby spinning? why is she doing like this?

I found it perfect for bedtime, too, as the story ends with all 10 babies sleeping.  Their parents peeked in the window as they say goodnight to the 10 cute babies.

Ten Tiny Babies by Karen Katz
Ideal for Ages 2 – 4.
Available at (I checked the book I’m holding right now but it doesn’t say where my library purchased it. I checked NBS, Fullybooked and Powerbooks online but they don’t have the title in their databases too. NBS and FB have other Karen Katz titles.)

References:

Katz, K. (2008). Ten tiny babies . New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

Ten tiny babies book cover. Retrieved 22 January 2011, from http://fun.familyeducation.com/images/TenTinyBabies_H.jpg

the search for the new assistant

i attended a general assembly in school today informing us of the need for new assistant principals (we have two) in high school.  they gave a rundown of the basic requirements, and listed all candidates.  Of course, people like us do not expect to see our names there.  And I guess not a lot wants to be in that position neither.  For some, it would be.  It just dawned on me how serious that matter was.  Looking at the requirements, from educational attainment to emotional maturity, I felt so inferior.  If I can meet half or even just a quarter of those expectations then I guess I deserve the spot where I am right now.  I think more people deserve my position.  I think more people are more capable for the job.  Everyday I tell people, I am not exactly happy. Everyday, they tell me I can do something.  Everyday I tell people, find another one.  Everyday they tell me, there is no one.

I want action but I can’t do it when I’m here.

10

10 more days, and another year will pass.  i still remember the writing activity we've had when I was in grade school.  If "What I did Last Summer" was a cliche, then what do you call "What Will I be Ten Years from Now"?  Oh, the agony of predicting future at an early age.  I'm pretty sure, this doesn't happen just once.   I remember wondering how my classmates can whip a nicely done two-paged write-up, while I was struggling for just a paragraph.  How can they say what they really wanted?  How can they know what they are going to be, ten years hence.  Some would say they'll be a doctor by that time, but I would say to them, how can you be a doctor when after ten years you're just 19?  Unless you're Doogie Howser.

It's been 17 years after graduation, and Facebook has made several reunions possible.  Those who claimed to be business people after 10 years were already into business, some have completely different tracks, but most of the people who knew what they'll be 10 years after are more or less have improved lives.

I do not envy them because of what they have or because of who they are.  I envy them because they knew what they wanted to be, and they keep track of their personal growth.  I wish to be more like them, to know what I really want, to know where i am good at, to see things without being told.  I want to be the director of my own drama series.  I want to be in control, not of anybody's life, but of my own life.  So, 10 or more years from now, I can look back and retrace the roots of my own sweet victory.

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